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Tag Archives: peace

My youngest brother and I were in a taxi returning home from our grandmother’s residence. When we reached the back of the James Springgs Payne Airport which is opposite the resident of the President (Fish Market Community), something caught his attention. I questioned him, ” why are you stretching yourself?”. He replied asking me and trying to peep through the windshield of the taxi “why are the women lying on the ground and in the rain?”. I smiled knowing that he is very young to understand the positive contributions of those women towards Liberia.

He is a curious little kid and he pushed me to give him some information as to why the women were lying on the ground, and in the rain praying. It was strange to him. I informed him that the women ,that I consider our mothers, are part of an organization named the West Africa Network for Peace-building (WANEP). The organization introduced the program in 2002. In addition to mobilizing women for the promotion of peace, the program builds the capacity of women in peace-building and to become self sufficient. In 2003, the women mobilized a mass and non-violent demonstration in order to ensure a peaceful negotiation between the then Charles Taylor led government, and the rebel groups (the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL))and others political parties to cease fire, begin negotiation and restore peace in Liberia. The efforts of their positive work were inherent in the signing of the Accra Ceasefire Agreement and subsequently, the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The work of these women were backed by prayers. They spent many days and nights in the open field lying in the sand and praying to God for Peace in Liberia.

My brother’s continuous questions had a flashback effect on me. As young as I was during the crisis, I remembered seeing the women in their white t-shirts fasting and praying for Liberia. Those were the days that no peaceful Liberian will wish to see. I am being informed that they have begun fourteen days of fast and prayer to save Liberia from the Lethal Ebola disease. With the Ebola virus raging, I knew the women would resume their prayers. So, it was no surprise that I saw our mothers praying to God again for Liberia.

These women are one of the foundations for the restoration of peace in Liberia. Their cries, prayers are always heard by God. What amazes me is the mode of their prayer. They lie flat in the sand in the open, and fast and pray to God. They do this whether it is rainy or sunny. Anyone that does not know the intent of these women will think somehow. But these are market women, housewives, and professionals who put aside their important activities to gather and pray for the country. Liberia is under attack. In this case, the Ebola disease is our enemy. In addition to other efforts, we need the intervention of the Women of WANEP. Their fourteen days fast and prayers (in the rain) calling for God’s intervention to eradicate this disease is welcomed and commendable. I know that God will answer their prayers and heal our land.

I am of the opinion that these are the heroines of Liberia. They should be shown all manner of respect. We should hail them not only in the times of crisis, but also in good times. Women of WAPNET, thank you. My brother got to understand the reason why you are in the sand and praying.